Angels hope to iron out defensive woes

ANAHEIM -- Defensively, the Angels have three center fielders roaming the outfield and a pair of Gold Glove winners on the infield, yet the defense has not been as strong as the team anticipated.

Statistically speaking, it's been the worst in baseball with a league-leading 53 errors and a league-worst .980 fielding percentage.

"There have been some errors and we depend a lot on our defense because we feel our defense is an asset in range and dependability," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It hasn't shown up the way it needs to."

In the past 18 games, the Angels have committed 13 errors. The Angels have also had at least one error in each of the past nine games and also lead the league with 60 stolen bases allowed.

Howie Kendrick leads the team with eight errors, while Alberto Callaspo and Erick Aybar each have seven of their own -- which puts each member of the trio among the top 10 in baseball.

"On the infield side, Alfredo [Griffin] is working very hard with these guys because he has as much confidence as anybody that our defense should be an asset for us, not only the range, but the dependability," Scioscia said.

The Angels are on pace for 124 errors -- 26 more than they committed a season ago.

Trout fastest player to 200 runs scored since '40

ANAHEIM -- Mike Trout's list of accomplishments continues to grow.

When the 21-year-old scored in the sixth inning of Monday's 11-3 win over the Mariners, the 249th of his career, against the Mariners, he became the fastest player to score 200 runs since Ted Williams (225 games) and Barney McCosky (236 games) reached the mark in 1940.

"I take pride in scoring runs as the leadoff guy," Trout said. "Get on base and score some runs, that's my job."

Following up his historic rookie campaign, Trout has already stolen headlines this season when he hit his first career grand slam on April 20 and hit for the cycle on May 22.

"He's playing at a high level again and it's fun to watch," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Only seven players have crossed home plate 200 times in fewer games than the Angels' young phenom and five of them -- Joe DiMaggio, Lloyd Waner, Kiki Cuyler, Williams and Chuck Klein -- are in the Hall of Fame.

Callaspo looks to break out of slump at plate

ANAHEIM -- While the majority of the focus has been on Josh Hamilton's inability to live up to expectations, Angels third baseman Alberto Callaspo has been mired in a slump of his own.

Callaspo was 2-for-10 in the weekend series against the Yankees and had not had a multi-hit game or an extra-base hit since June 8.

"Alberto's struggling," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It looks like he's just trying to find a balance in the box. He's feeling for some pitches, he's out in front of some pitches."

In the past 20 games Callaspo is hitting just .169 and has seen his batting average drop from .273 to .234.

"He's just a solid hitter that can go line to line and hit line drives all over the field and he's not in that comfort zone right now," Scioscia said.

Prior to this recent skid, Callaspo had a 10-game stretch in which he hit .286 with six extra-base hits and four multi-hit games.

In Monday's 11-3 victory over the Mariners, he appeared to make major progress. He matched a career high with four hits.

The Angels third baseman went 4-for-5 and raised his batting average from .234 to .250.

Scioscia confident Weaver is making progress

ANAHEIM -- Jered Weaver has made four starts since returning from the disabled list and although the first one -- an impressive six inning, seven strikeout victory over the Dodgers -- electrified the Angel Stadium crowd, the right-hander has yet to return to his dominant self.

In just his second start of the year, a road game against Texas, Weaver fractured his left elbow and missed 50 days while on the DL.

Since his return, the 30-year-old right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA and has yet to pitch into the seventh inning.

"He's still working into his stuff," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's throwing the ball as we would expect for a guy who's missed some time."

On Sunday, Weaver struggled with command, tying a career high with four walks and was frustrated with his inability to get deep into the game. However, Weaver did throw 103 pitches -- the most since his injury -- so it appears the length he desires is coming soon.

"He's going to have to get stretched out," Scioscia said. "It was good to see him get into the pitch count he got to today and hopefully he'll continue to build off that."